11 October 2018

Bloomberg wins RIBA Stirling Prize 2018

Bloomberg’s new European headquarters, located in the heart of the City of London, has been awarded the Stirling Prize 2018. At the televised award ceremony in London, the judges called the building a “once-in-a-generation project”, that has “not just raised the bar for office design and city planning but smashed the ceiling.”

The spirit of innovation and collaboration that underpins the building was led by the vision of Mike Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, who said: "When we embarked on this project, we wanted to create a cutting-edge design that would push the boundaries of what an office building could be, which meant setting new standards for openness and sustainability. At the same time, we wanted to honor London's history and contribute to its vitality. We knew that if we could achieve both objectives, we'd have a building that would inspire everyone who set foot inside it. This prize indicates that -- thanks to the brilliant Norman Foster -- we succeeded. And we're grateful to everyone who worked so hard to bring it to life."

Foster + Partners also gains the distinction of being the first practice to have been awarded the Stirling Prize three times, having won it previously in 1998 for the American Air Museum in Duxford, and in 2004 for 30 St Mary Axe.

From our first discussions to the final details of the project, Mike Bloomberg and I had a ‘meeting of minds’ on every aspect of the project – its sustainable focus, commitment to innovation and drive to create the best workplace for Bloomberg employees. It is due to his enlightened patronage and the hands-on role that he played throughout the design process, that has made Bloomberg a resounding success. He is one of those rare individuals who truly ‘practice what they preach’, marrying the sustainable vision for Bloomberg with his own personal convictions, laid out so succinctly in his book – The Climate of Hope. The Stirling Prize is a testament to the incredible collaborative spirit that has underpinned the entire project from start to finish, and to Mike’s pioneering vision.

Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman Foster + Partners

Behind every good building is a great client and Bloomberg is a testament to what is possible when the visions of client and architect align. We were continually supported and inspired by Mike Bloomberg and his team, who shared our values on innovation, sustainability and wellbeing to develop a pioneering new workplace for the future. We are delighted that Bloomberg has been awarded the Stirling Prize, as recognition of not only this special partnership, but also the immense collaboration by the entire team that underpinned and delivered the project.

Michael Jones, Senior Partner and Lead Architect, Foster + Partners

Notes for editors

• The RIBA Stirling Prize is the UK’s most prestigious architecture award. Given to the architect of the building thought to be the most significant of the year for the evolution of architecture and the built environment, the RIBA Stirling Prize is judged on a range of criteria including design vision, innovation and originality, capacity to stimulate engage and delight occupants and visitors, accessibility and sustainability, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction. https://architecture.com/ribastirlingprize